Today Variety announced their annual list of 10 Actors to Watch, featuring up-and-coming stars with “uncommonly bright futures.” For the 4th year in a row, this exciting group will be celebrated at the annual Hamptons International Film Festival this fall.
Steven Gaydos, Variety‘s VP and executive editor, explains the honor, which dates back to 1998: “Actors to Watch turn up in edgy little indies, studio blockbusters and from all corners of the world. You’ll see some of these actors in upcoming awards season films and you will have seen some of them in current summer hits. We feel they all have one thing in common: uncommonly bright futures.”
Past honorees include many future Oscar-winners and nominees such as Viola Davis, Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Patricia Clarkson, Samantha Morton, Lupita Nyong’o, Michael Shannon, Melissa Leo and many others.
David Nugent, Artistic Director of the festival, adds, “The Hamptons International Film Festival is delighted to partner with Variety again in highlighting the work of these actors, whose work thus far promises bright futures ahead. We have a long history of celebrating the next wave of acting talent at early stages of their careers, including Emily Blunt, Jessica Chastain, Adam Driver, David Oyelowo… and this year’s group is amongst the best we’ve had.”
This year’s 10 Actors to Watch are:
Christopher Abbott
Since appearing in Girls on HBO and Martha Marcy May Marlene, Abbott has starred in James White, and will soon be seen in Criminal Activities and Fun House.
Bel Powley
The breakout star of Diary of a Teenage Girl (currently in theaters), will soon appear in Drake Doremus’s Equals, and as the titular character in Carrie Pilby.
Emory Cohen
Previously seen in The Place Beyond the Pines and Beneath the Harvest Sky, Cohen will soon be seen romancing Saoirse Ronan in Brooklyn.
Rebecca Ferguson
Currently wowing audiences opposite Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, soon to be seen in Stephen Frears’s Florence Foster Jenkins and The Girl on the Train.
Thomas Mann
The star of the Sundance hit Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is soon to be seen in Some Freaks and The Preppie Connection.
Jason Mitchell
Currently earning raves as Eazy-E in Straight Outta Compton, Mitchell will soon be seen in Keanu.
Maika Monroe
The striking star of The Guest and It Follows, will soon be seen in Independence Day: Resurgence.
Keith Stanfield
Now on screens as Snoop Dogg in Straight Outta Compton, Stanfield previously starred in Short Term 12 and will soon be featured in Oliver Stone’s Snowden.
Tessa Thompson
Recently seen in Selma and Dear White People, Thompson will soon star in Creed and War On Everyone.
Jessie Usher
Currently starring in the television series Survivor’s Remorse, Usher will soon appear in Independence Day: Resurgence.
This year’s honorees will be highlighted in the October 6 issue of Variety.
